Positioned at Les SUBS in Lyon, ARCADIA by UV Lab transforms public space into an engaging, interactive experience. Extending over a three-year period from 2025 to 2027, this wooden installation reimagines the ancient Greek Arcadia within a contemporary cityscape. The project, a collaboration with students from the @ensba_lyon, explores the intersection of ecological awareness, urban environments, and social unity.
Rather than a traditional, static structure, ARCADIA invites exploration. Its design includes terraces, balconies, elevated platforms, and circulation paths, forming a dynamic network that guides visitors through a journey of changing visuals and experiences. As you navigate the layered routes, the installation reveals vistas of the Saône River and the Fourvière hill, while playing with light, shadow, and material texture.
ARCADIA’s architectural form towers approximately ten meters high, organically blending with its surroundings. This timber framework is adaptive, capable of being assembled, modified, disassembled, and reconfigured throughout its lifespan. Its versatility supports varied uses—from performances and gatherings to quiet retreats—without fixing a singular purpose.
If you’re intrigued by adaptable timber structures, explore how a charred cabin in the Sázava River utilized similar versatile designs.
The development involved students from ENSBA – École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, reflecting UV Lab’s participatory approach to architecture. By fostering interaction and transformation, ARCADIA positions public space as a shared realm defined by its community and evolvement.
For more on participatory design, see how eco-minimalist home design blends sustainability with innovative architecture.
The collaborative blueprint behind ARCADIA
ARCADIA’s design and execution emerged from the creative minds at @uv.lab, led by architects Khaled Alwarea, Shnsho, Nour Alkhatib, and Samra Bulbol. Structural expertise was provided by Quentin Alart, Laurent Gauthier, and Hugo Hazard. Construction was in the capable hands of Hafid Chouaf, Konrad Kaniuk, Stéphane Stilitz, Thibaut Quintin.
The project also enlisted the talents of students such as Théa Champagnon, Julie Correira Gomes among others. @les_subs_lyon supported the project, reinforcing the vision of public space as a dynamic, evolving stage.
This wooden marvel highlights the importance of collaboration and creative freedom in shaping distinctive urban experiences. ARCADIA is not just architecture; it’s a testament to community-driven design.
Sources & Links
Source: designboom.com